South Kent News

State Representative Angela Rigas from Caledonia has introduced a bill aimed at enhancing school safety through mandatory reporting. The proposed legislation, House Bill 4258, mandates that any incidents reported to OK2SAY, Michigan's confidential school safety tip line, be communicated to the relevant school or district, local law enforcement, and other appropriate authorities within 24 hours.

"This is a much-needed change," stated Rigas. "The safety of our children is an absolute priority. We can’t afford to let potentially life-saving tips go unanswered or lost in the system."

The bill forms part of a broader school safety initiative by Michigan House Republicans. This package includes additional funding for school safety measures, placing tip line information on student ID cards, and improving active shooter drills. Rigas emphasized the importance of these legislative actions in ensuring safer educational environments across Michigan.

"I’ve seen real world tragedies when these tips go unanswered," Rigas noted. "These precautions are long overdue, and we owe it to our kids to make sure they feel safe in the classroom. They should know beyond a doubt that if they file a report, it will be addressed, and that there are men and women there to protect them no matter what."

For further details on this initiative, Rep. Angela Rigas can be contacted at (517) 373-1403 or via email at [email protected].